Ypsilanti Township to restrict businesses to industrial zoning

By Mark Tower
May. 7, 2010 · 9:48 a.m.

The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees is moving on a discussion held on zoning medicinal marijuana in the township.

After conducting the first reading of an amendment to Ypsilanti Township's zoning ordinance, which would restrict medicinal marijuana dispensaries and nurseries to property zoned “light industrial,” the board will consider the ordinance for final approval at its May 18 meeting.

Though the meeting will not be an official public hearing, Township Clerk Karen Lovejoy Roe said township residents are welcome to attend the meeting and make comments about the zoning change.

If the current proposed amendment is approved, any new businesses or individuals in Ypsilanti Township hoping to cultivate or distribute marijuana under the new state law legalizing the plant to be used for medicinal purposes would be restricted to property zoned I-1 “light industrial.”

Restricting such marijuana nurseries and dispensaries to these zoning districts, Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo said, is an attempt to keep such operations out of residential neighborhoods. State law requires only that those defined as “caregivers” under the new system keep marijuana plants in a closed, locked facility.

State law allows caregivers to grow the plants for a maximum of five patients, who are each allotted a maximum of 12 plants. This means that, if the caregiver is also a registered medicinal marijuana patient, they can grow a maximum of 72 plants for themselves and their five patients.

Dispensaries could conceivably get around this state restriction, Police Services Coordinator Mike Radzik said, if caregivers team up. The ordinance under consideration by township trustees; however, would restrict the number of plants grown to 72 in any one location.

The planning commission, when considering the new ordinance, had suggested that dispensaries be allowed in business zoning districts instead, since they felt the business was similar to a pharmacy. When the board considered the issue at its April 22 meeting, Roe suggested allowing dispensaries that don't actually grow marijuana to operate in business zoning districts, but to restrict marijuana nurseries to industrial zoning.

Such a change was not considered by trustees Wednesday, and any medicinal marijuana growing or dispensing operation, if the ordinance is adopted, would be restricted to areas zoned light industrial.

The proposed ordinance also places restrictions on dispensaries and nurseries, prohibiting them from being set up within 1,000 feet of another dispensary, a house of worship, a K-12 school, a child care organization, a public library or a residential district.

Other restrictions include a ban on using marijuana on the premises, a ban on sale of drug paraphernalia to anyone other than patients and caregivers and an age limit of 18 unless the minor is accompanied by a parent or primary caregiver.

The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees will convene at 7 p.m. May 18 to consider the ordinance, accept public comments and consider other township business. All township meetings are open to the public.

For more information about the proposed ordinance, citizens can access the May 5, 2010, board packet on the township's website at ytown.org. Board packets are available to the public for viewing and downloading before and after board meetings.